POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino encourages adults looking for new career options to consider a career in EMS, and take advantage of State University of New York’s (SUNY) new Reconnect program at no cost. The Reconnect program covers tuition, fees, books and supplies for adults between the ages of 25 and 55 who have not yet earned a college degree enroll in one of a dozen in-demand programs, including Dutchess Community College’s (DCC) Emergency Medical Technician: Paramedic field of study. The tuition-free program begins with the Fall 2025 semester. Registration information is available on DCC’s website.
The County Executive joined SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. and DCC President Peter Grant Jordan this morning to discuss the new SUNY Reconnect program at the college’s Town of Poughkeepsie campus.
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said, “Dutchess County has long championed Emergency Medical Services as a critical and in-demand career path. We are excited to see that recognition reflected in the SUNY Reconnect initiative so local students can take advantage of this amazing opportunity. While New York State doesn’t consider Emergency Medical Services (EMS) a mandated essential service, we in Dutchess County know how critical it is. We are grateful to have a local partner in DCC, which can help bolster recruitment and training for this important and vital career.”
Strengthening EMS, including workforce recruitment and retention, has been a priority for County Executive Serino. Earlier this year, she was joined by the New York State County Executives’ Association in urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to include EMT training in the new, tuition-free program, explaining the inclusion would “remove a significant barrier to entry and help ensure that our communities have the life-saving personnel they need.” Read the letter online.
The County has been working to address the EMS workforce shortage by recruiting new talent and supporting current responders with resiliency training and peer support. Dutchess County worked closely with DCC’s EMS Coordinator to better understand the student experience – surveying and meeting with students to learn more about their career goals and the barriers they face in completing certification or serving on an EMS squad. For many, the EMS program is a steppingstone to careers in nursing, physician assistant programs, or medical schools, which means they often do not enter the workforce directly after completing the course.
To help reverse this trend, the County is actively promoting EMS as a career path: investing in marketing efforts like vehicle wraps and committing $100,000 in new equipment for EMS training and education. In addition, Dutchess County is developing wrap-around services to help students overcome personal and financial obstacles and ensure they successfully complete the program and are prepared to serve.
Dutchess Community College President Peter Grant Jordan said, “Just like County Executive Serino, Dutchess Community College knows the crucial role Emergency Medical Technicians play in our community’s health, safety and well-being. We at DCC are thrilled to play an active role in training the next generation of these life-saving professionals. Partnering with Dutchess County on this important initiative, including through the SUNY Reconnect program and other efforts, strengthens our school’s standing as a valuable community asset that has greatly impacted so many lives for decades.”
Addressing the EMS workforce shortage is just one aspect of the County’s multi-faceted effort to respond to EMS challenges. The County Executive’s 2025 Budget included a historic $2 million investment in EMS that includes contracted supplemental ambulance coverage, fly-car grant program and a public-awareness campaign to help residents better understand when to call 911 for an ambulance and how to use EMS resources wisely.
The Emergency Medical Technician: Paramedic program is one of 12 high-demand associate degree programs offered at DCC, tuition-free, through the SUNY Reconnect program; others include Architectural Technology, Computer Science, Mental Health Assistant and Nursing. A full list of eligible degree programs, and additional SUNY Reconnect information, is available on DCC’s website.
